***WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES***
Early reports indicate that a bus carrying Coptic Christian pilgrims to a monastery in Minya province in Upper Egypt has been attacked by gunmen.
JUST IN: At least seven people killed, 14 injured in attack on bus heading toward Coptic monastery in Egypt – archbishop to Reuters pic.twitter.com/1FW8LxqXRd
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 2, 2018
Bishop Makarious of Minya just told me “terrorists opened fire on a bus carrying people from Sohag to Monya’s st Samuel monastery, killing 7 and injuring 14 so far. The bishop had a priest accompanying this trip in another minibus, went to the hospital with the injured. 1-2
— Heba Farouk Mahfouz (@HebaFarooq) November 2, 2018
The Islamic State affiliate in Egypt has claimed credit for the attack:
#Egypt– as expected, first word from #ISIS on the #Minya attack against Coptic Christians with an Amaq report on the incident, attributing it to "fighters of the Islamic State"https://t.co/2Eb5DjPrar pic.twitter.com/NdcI9eUAVm
— Oded Berkowitz (@Oded121351) November 2, 2018
Al-Ahram reports:
At least seven were killed after unknown gunmen shot at a bus transporting a group of Coptic Christians in Egypt’s Minya governorate on Friday.
The group was heading to the Monastery of Saint Samuel the Confessor, located in the western desert.
A similar attack involving the same monastery took place in May 2017, when gunmen driving three 4×4 wheelers shot at a bus carrying Coptic pilgrims to the same location, killing 30 people.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for that attack.
A church spokesman and the Minya governor has confirmed the 7 dead figure. The website “Coptstoday” is citing diocese sources claiming 10 were killed.
The official Coptic Church spokesperson account posted images on Facebook showing at least two children/young teens killed in today’s attack.
A second statement by the Church spokesperson states that a bus owned by a church in Sohag and a minibus following behind were the targets of today’s attack. The fatalities from the attack were those occupying the minibus, which carried a family returning from the monastery after the baptism of one of the family’s children.
Egypt’s President Sisi has posted a statement on his official Twitter account saying:
I am deeply saddened by the martyrs who fell today by treacherous hands seeking to undermine the fabric of a cohesive homeland… I wish the wounded a speedy recovery and affirm our determination to continue our efforts to combat dark terrorism and to prosecute the perpetrators.
This incident will not undermine the will of our nation to continue its battle to prevail and build.
أنعى ببالغ الحزن الشهداء الذين سقطوا اليوم بأيادٍ غادرة تسعى للنيل من نسيج الوطن المتماسك…وأتمنى الشفاء العاجل للمصابين واؤكد عزمنا على مواصلة جهودنا لمكافحة الإرهاب الاسود وملاحقة الجناة.
هذا الحادث لن ينال من إرادة امتنا في إستمرار معركتها للبقاء والبناء..— Abdelfattah Elsisi (@AlsisiOfficial) November 2, 2018
Reports indicate that President Sisi has called Pope Tawadros to offer his condolences.
As I reported in May 2017, Islamic State gunmen killed 31 in the previous attack on the eve of Ramadan as a busload of pilgrims were traveling to the St. Samuel Monastery.
Some early images and video from today’s attack site are beginning to appear.
Gunmen have reportedly opened fire on Coptic Orthodox pilgrims visiting a monastery in Minya. Indicative reports suggest that the victims were targeted on their way to St Samuel’s Monastery near Al Minya. We will post further updates. pic.twitter.com/KkQCom1BWO
— Aus Coptic Movement (@auscma) November 2, 2018
https://twitter.com/sayed_ridha/status/1058354975846191104
****Warning 18 +******
Devastating video from the site of terrorist attack in #Minya , Southern #Egypt , which ahs left at least 7 copts killed and 14 injured #Terrorism via @Piratejacksparo pic.twitter.com/PSM5KuyXpD— Amr Khalifa (@Cairo67Unedited) November 2, 2018
In April 2014, I traveled to Minya, one of the largest cities in Upper Egypt, and throughout the province surveying the damage caused by a nationwide arson terror campaign targeting Christian churches, monasteries, and businesses launched by the Muslim Brotherhood in August 2013. More than 70 churches and monasteries were torched.
Revisiting the Muslim Brotherhood's August 2013 'Reign of Terror' Targeting Egypt's Christians https://t.co/Rf31VJzz4z #homelandsecurity
— PJ Media (@PJMedia_com) August 14, 2016
I will update as more information becomes available.
Previous coverage of attacks on the Coptic Christian community in Egypt:
Oct. 20, 2018: Blaze Guts Coptic Church in Cairo in Latest Blow to Egypt’s Christians
Dec 29, 2017: Terrorists Attack Coptic Church South of Cairo, at Least 10 Reported Dead
Oct. 12, 2017: Coptic Priest Murdered in Cairo in Latest Anti-Christian Sectarian Attack in Egypt
July 15, 2017: Slashing at Coptic Church in Alexandria As Attacks on Christians in Egypt Escalate
June 24, 2017: Egyptian Authorities Bust Terror Cell Targeting Alexandria Church For Suicide Bombing on Eid al-Fitr
May 29, 2017: ‘Moderate’ Muslim Brotherhood Incites More Terror Attacks Targeting Egypt’s Coptic Christians
May 26, 2017: On Eve of Ramadan, Islamic Gunmen Kill 31 Coptic Christians on Pilgrimage in Egypt
May 9, 2017: My Visit to the Site of the December Coptic Church Suicide Bombing in Cairo
May 8, 2017: Islamic State Threatens More Attacks on Egypt’s Christians, Obama CVE Adviser Says They Have It Coming
April 14, 2017: New Attacks on Coptic Christians in Upper Egypt — But It’s Not the Islamic State
April 12, 2017: Egyptian Authorities Stop Planned Islamic State Terror Attack on Coptic Monastery in Upper Egypt
April 9, 2017: Two Blasts Strike Coptic Churches on Palm Sunday in Egypt, 49 Reported Dead
Feb. 25, 2017: Hundreds of Egyptian Coptic Christians Flee Sinai After Series of Islamic State Murders
Feb. 19, 2017: New Islamic State Video Threatens Egyptian Christians, Shows December Church Suicide Bomber
Feb. 13, 2017: More Coptic Christians Murdered the Past Two Months Than Admitted As Refugees During Obama’s Presidency
Jan. 3, 2017: Islamist Murders Christian for Selling Alcohol in Alexandria
Dec. 11, 2016: Cairo Cathedral Bombing Killing 25 During Church Service Fits a Familiar Pattern
Aug 14, 2016: Three Years After – Revisiting the Muslim Brotherhood’s August 2013 ‘Reign of Terror’ Targeting Egypt’s Christians
June 25, 2016: Disgraced Homeland Security Adviser Mohamed Elibiary Scapegoats Egypt’s Christians — Again
March 29, 2015: Muslim Brotherhood Mob Attacks Family of Coptic Christian Martyr Beheaded by ISIS in Libya
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